Sheep Lake & Naches Loop 9-10-09 I’ll make this short and sweet just like the hikes. Started at 8:00 AM on PCT trail, this was my first time going to Sheep Lake. I walked around it and took a ton of reflection shots, I noticed a bra and panties sitting on a large log but no owner, if you lost them they are still there..after that I met a few people doing the PCT trail from Mexico.. woman “socks” on her blog said she went through 5 pairs of shoes already.. I ate tons of berries on the way down and decided to hit Naches loop trail and look for bears..As I was heading up I saw a rainbow, it was very odd since there was no rain. Beautiful day and great tarns, lakes and mountain views.. colors are turning as you can see. Hike #74, I hope I can get to 100 this year it’s going to be close.

This is an addition to the report titled White Pass to Chinook Pass. Somehow I goofed and didn't get the pictures included or find the correct trail! Have no idea how to correct my error so will add the pictures here!

I joined my good friends Karen and Bob for hike no. 2 in my Hike-a-Thon 2009 campaign. We dropped a car at the Crystal Lakes trailhead, drove up to Chinook Pass, hiked the PCT to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap, then dropped down to Crystal Lakes and back to the car. About 7-8 miles, with more loss than gain! All trails in good shape. It was warm, but we enjoyed a nice breeze and forest shade after Lower Crystal Lake. Photography was made difficult by a constant haze in the air -- hope it wasn't due to forest fires. Saw lots of flowers (paintbrush, lupine, bistort, pasque flower/Western anemone, monkeyflowers, tiger lilies, pearly everlasting) and a family of grouse; heard but did not see marmots. On our way back to the pass, Karen and I enjoyed a side trip "scramble" down to Ghost Lake. If there's a trail down to the lake, we couldn't find it. Look for the lake between mile markers 65 and 66 on 410. We also stopped by the Allen gravesite near the White River in Silver Springs campground.

Gorgeous hike on a clear, sunny day. Nice flower display along the first mile of the Pacific Crest Trail from Chinook Pass. Once you enter the forest, some very small patches of snow as you near Sheep Lake, but nothing that ever gets in way of following the trail. Snow free from the lake to Sourdough Gap, with spectacular views of Mount Adams and St. Helens. One late-lingering, potentially dangerous snow field over the Pacific Crest Trial just past the Gap. About 30-40 yards across, it can be navigated with care, but a slip could result in injury.

Shepherd's friend English wanted to treat her new adopted pound puppy Gracie to an autumn hike on this, another perfect fall day. So we three humans and our canine friends dressed in "Hunters-don't-shoot-me-orange" took a 7-mile roundtrip hike up to Sourdough Gap. The trail is in good shape with just a few miniscule patches of tramped-down snow at the beginning. As you get higher up, the snow actually disappears. The trail follows the PCT and starts off behind the toilets at the trailhead. After you've walked up just a few dozen feet, you'll come to trail covered in snow that takes off behind you and to your right. Make sure you take THAT trail, which is the PCT heading due North. That will take you to Sheep Lake and Sourdough Gap. The grade is modest, climbing gently from 5400 ft to 6400 feet over the 3.5 miles to the Gap. You should be following SR 410 north for about a mile before finally entering the forest. Catch good views of the valley of the Rainier Fork of the American River and Naches Peak. You'll also catch panoramic views of Mt. Adams. At 2.5 miles is Sheep Lake, a good watering and playing hole for the dogs. Cross the wooden bridge and continue on to the rocky saddle of Sourdough Gap. Just as you take the right hand turn that brings you to the Gap, look straight and a little to your left. That's the boot-beaten path that climbs a short and steep 300 ft up to a ridge crest. It's well worth the effort because up top you'll get a monster view of the Emmons Glacier on Mount Rainier and see beautiful Crystal Lake below you. It's a sheer 500-foot drop-off on the far side, so make sure your dog doesn't wander far from you. And poles are a good idea for the descent, as the dirt and rocks are quite loose. We passed a handful of hikers with their dogs, and some families out with their kids. This is a great trail for both. DIRECTIONS TO THE TRAILHEAD: Drive east from Enumclaw on SR 410 to the summit of Chinook Pass. Just east of the pass, you'll see Tipsoo Lake parking lot. Continue past this and Tipsoo Lake to the next parking lot, a fairly sizeable one on your left, with two outbuildings. The trail starts on the backside of the parking lot, behind the restrooms. DISTANCE: 5 mi round-trip to Sheep Lake, or 7 miles round-trip to Sourdough Gap ELEVATION GAIN: 1000 ft (5400-6400 ft) MAP: Green Trails No. 270, 271 TIME: 2:00 in, 1:45 out NOTES: SR-410 will be closing soon so hit this trail pronto!